If he tries again, some say his public remarks will have to be practically perfect if he wants people to put aside the stumbles of his first White House run.

So far, not so good.

Perry, in a June speech to the Faith & Freedom Coalition in Washington, slammed the Obama administration by saying it “won't make one phone call to save our men and women in an embassy in Lebanon.” He apparently meant Libya.

In a July interview with the Washington Post, Perry framed his potential 2016 prospects by saying that “America's been a country of second choices.” When reporter Dan Balz asked if he meant second chances, Perry said, “Both,” according to the story. “Second choices and second chances.”

It's hard to imagine he really meant to cast himself as a second-choice candidate, but if so, it's less than a winning slogan.

Perry launched August by mixing up his locales during an appearance at the RedState blogger gathering — even though “New Orleans” was written on the front of the lectern.

“There are many other states that embrace those conservative values, the approach that we've taken over the years. I'm in one today — in Florida. You look at South Carolina. You look at Florida,” Perry said

A voice called out, “We're in Louisiana.”

“I know, and I said that,” maintained Perry, and laughter rose. “I'm in one of those states that reflect those today, in Louisiana ... I got that.”

That was the third thing, the magic number that makes for a list, which can seem like a trend.

Perry doomed his chances for the 2012 GOP nod for president with a series of missteps, highlighted by a debate in which he could recall only two of the three federal agencies that he wanted to close. In his word, “Oops.”

In a world where everyone makes mistakes, that's why Perry's missteps get attention from those paying attention.

“Everybody fumbles,” Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said, “but when that's your reputation, then you don't get very many new chances.”

The positive news for Perry, he said, is this: “The general public is not watching closely enough to have taken in any of this.”

The not-so-positive news: “Those of us who do watch closely see each one of these and are confirmed in the impression that it's going to be very steep uphill for Perry.”

Jillson previously suggested Perry would need to prepare intensely for a second presidential run, including a “serious course of study on national security, foreign policy, military affairs.” He has predicted that money for another Perry presidential run would dry up if he makes mistakes that indicate he's “no better prepared this time.”

Perry's performance thus far, Jillson said last week, “does suggest that any preparation that is needed for a second presidential run has not taken place yet.”